Contactless payment method and device, using a re-usable card

ABSTRACT

In a transport system using contactless microcircuit cards, users are obliged to hand in a card when the credit shown on it has been used up. The value of the cards is recharged and they are then sold again. Recovering and recharging the cards reduces the ticketing cost per journey.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists in a contactless payment method anddevice using a rechargeable medium. The medium is typically amicrocircuit card (“smart card”) which can be read and written withoutphysical contact via a radio link, but the invention can be applied toall rewritable media which can be read and written without contact. Somesmart cards which can be read and written using a radio link can also beread by contact (magnetically, optically or electrically) and so canalso be read and written by contact readers, i.e. readers which requirethe card to be inserted into a machine.

The method of the invention is more particularly intended to be used inthe field of travel tickets. It is described in relation to that field,but other fields are feasible, in particular automatic dispensing.

Travel tickets are generally on a single-use medium, for example papertickets carrying a magnetic stripe, because their cost is low comparedto the fare. The user discards the ticket when a predetermined journeyor a predetermined number of journeys has been completed or when anexpiry date has been reached. Those media are read by contact in areader.

Payment methods using a contact reader have the disadvantage of a lowthroughput of users, because each user takes some time to stop in frontof a gate, take the ticket out of a pocket or handbag, insert it into amachine and recover it. It is necessary to provide parallel gates toincrease the throughput of users.

For several years now, public transport ticketing systems have beenevolving from the use of conventional tickets towards the use ofcontactless smart cards. However, the cost of these contactless cards(several hundred times the cost of a paper ticket with magnetic stripe)limits their use to season tickets or rechargeable tickets (tickets thatthe user can “recharge” in an automatic machine accepting payment bybanknotes, coins or credit card), to retain a ratio close to one percentbetween the cost of the ticket per journey and the fare. Consequently,conventional tickets continue to be used either for all users or atleast for occasional users who purchase tickets valid for only onejourney (“single-journey tickets”).

Contactless smart cards are currently being used as public transporttickets on an experimental basis in France (Paris and Marseille) and forreal (Seoul, Hong Kong, Washington, etc.). The system is generallyreferred to as teleticketing. To carry out all the standard functions ofa microcircuit card, such as writing, reading, authentication, etc., thecard can communicate over a short distance (approximately tencentimeters) with a coupler provided with an antenna. It usually alsoreceives the power needed for it to operate from the antenna. This typeof remote communication is currently being standardized by ISO Standard14443. There are also combined cards operating without contact fortransport access transactions and with contact for personalization orrecharging transactions using standard contact equipment.

The teleticketing system has a number of advantages over conventionalpaper or magnetic stripe tickets:

-   -   there is no need to insert the ticket into a slot and recover        the ticket from the same slot or an outlet chute, which reduces        the overall time of a transaction by eliminating the human        action and reaction times, and the electronic transaction time        is short (approximately 100 ms to 200 ms) compared to a magnetic        stripe transaction (from 500 ms to 1 000 ms), these two features        increasing the throughput at the control point, which leads to a        reduction in the number of control points;    -   users retain the ticket in the hand (or handbag), which        eliminates the risk of loss or theft of the ticket at the time        of payment;    -   more data can be stored in the memory card than on a magnetic        stripe ticket and operators can therefore add to their knowledge        of how the transport network is used;    -   a teleticketing reader is less costly than a magnetic stripe        reader (by a factor of approximately 5);    -   the reader requires less maintenance because there are no        mechanical moving parts;    -   the scope for vandalism is limited;    -   the scope for differential fare structures is extended; and    -   other applications (electronic purse) are also possible.

On the other hand, the cost of a contactless ticket is much higher thanthat of a magnetic stripe ticket (by a factor of at least 1000) and inpractice incompatible with the fare for a single journey or the cost ofa basic service which can be paid for using a ticket of this kind. It isnot feasible to use a medium of this kind to pay for a single journeyand then discard it.

The contactless smart card is therefore restricted to season tickets andrechargeable tickets. In the transport field, where occasional usersrepresent approximately 20% of all passengers and account forapproximately 40% of revenue (because single-journey tickets do notbenefit from reduced fares), cheap media continue to be used forsingle-journey tickets, for example paper tickets with a magneticstripe. This significantly reduces the benefit of teleticketing becausethe need for the two systems to co-exist increases installation andmaintenance costs and limits throughput.

In the field of conventional ticket ing, the problem of the coexistenceof two systems has been solved (in Asia in particular) by using plasticsmaterial magnetic stripe cards to the standard format for all types oftickets, instead of using plastics material cards for season rickets andrechargeable tickets and paper or card single-journey tickets. The costof manufacturing each plastics material card is greater than that of apaper or card ticket, but very much less than the cost of a smart card.The cost problem is solved by recycling, which reduces the cost perjourney. A magnetic stripe card inserted into a reader is retained bythe reader when it has no further value. After checking its physicalcondition, its value is recharged by rewriting it magnetically, and itis then sold again. In this way it can be used several hundred times,which reduces the cost per journey and therefore avoids the need for twosystems to co-exist.

A transport company has no difficulty in recovering the magnetic stripecards because all users must in all cases insert their magnetic stripecard into a terminal which reads the magnetic stripe on the card,possibly writes data on it, and then unlocks a gate or a barrier if thecard shows sufficient credit for a journey. The cycle of use of amagnetic stripe card in the case of centralized recycling in a metronetwork is as follows:

-   -   1—Passengers purchase their tickets (single-journey tickets,        rechargeable tickets or time-period tickets, etc.) from an        automatic dispenser or at a ticket office.    -   2—The ticket is inserted into the reader of a terminal which        controls physical entry and exit of passengers.    -   3—At the exit, the ticket is returned to the user if, after        processing, it still has some value (sufficient credit for one        or more journeys or a sum of money), or if the expiry date has        not been reached.    -   4—The ticket is retained by the exit terminal if it shows no        value after processing (which applies to all single-journey        tickets).    -   5—In the case of centralized recycling, the recovered tickets        are taken to a sorting center. They are checked to see if they        can be used again. Those which can be used again are sorted by        category.    -   6—The sorted tickets are returned to ticket offices or automatic        dispensers and are magnetically written with the appropriate        value when they are issued.

The above description is somewhat simplified. Rechargeable tickets canbe processed differently. Users can recharge them for themselves at anautomatic machine accepting payment by banknote, coin, or credit card.In this case they are neither retained nor recycled by the gate. Othervariants are equally possible. The current trend is for decentralizedrecycling at each station. The tickets are sorted in each gate, whichlimits the circulation of the tickets but complicates the gates.

To summarize, well known in the art are: payment methods using low-costmedia, read by contact in a reader, but with the problem of a lowthroughput of users; and payment methods using contactless mediaachieving a fast throughput of users but causing a problem in terms ofthe cost of the media which leads to their use being restricted tocertain tickets so that two ticketing systems have to co-exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invent-on is to encourage the use of contactless mediafor low-value payments.

The invention consists in a contactless payment method using arechargeable medium, consisting in:

-   -   offering up the medium in the vicinity of a contactless reader,        and    -   debiting the medium with the cost of a requested service if the        credit shown on the medium is at least equal to that cost,    -   characterized in that, to oblige the user to hand in the medium        when the credit shown by the medium is less than a fixed amount,        it further consists in    -   verifying if the credit shown by the medium is less than a fixed        amount and, if it is, inviting the user to hand in the medium        they are using, and    -   providing a service only after the user has handed in the        medium.

The user is therefore obliged to give up the medium so that it can berecycled. For example, in the case of travel tickets, the methodconsists in reading the medium without contact and then opening a gateto allow the user to pass through at the beginning and/or at the end ofthe journey if the medium still contains sufficient credit for at leastone more journey. On the other hand, if the credit has been used up bythe journey currently being paid for, or which has just been completed,the user is requested to insert the medium into a machine that retainsit and then opens the gate. For example, the user is obliged to give upthe medium by making the opening of an entry or exit gate associatedwith a controlled area conditional on giving up the medium. If users donot give up the medium, they cannot enter or leave the controlled area.

The medium can be given up by inserting it into a machine similar to astandard terminal associated with a standard gate. Thus the medium isused most of the time without contact, which enables a high throughputof users, and is exceptionally used as a standard contact medium on theoccasion on which it must be given up. On that occasion, a user musttake the card out from a pocket or handbag and insert it into a terminalin order to give it up. The procedure then takes longer than usual, butoverall the method provides for a high throughput of users becausecontactless reading means that most users pass through the gate quickly.

Recycling single-journey tickets of occasional travelers, and possiblyrechargeable tickets, reduces their cost and therefore generalizes theuse of contactless media.

Recycling single-journey tickets divides the cost of the medium pertransaction by the number of times it is used. For example, a mediumcosting around 10 French francs and used 500 times has a cost pertransaction of 2 centimes, comparable to that of an Edmonson formatmagnetic stripe paper ticket.

The payment system preferably physically obliges a user to return themedium when invited to do so. The method of the invention is thereforemore particularly intended for systems with turnstiles or gates forphysically controlling the movement of passengers. It can neverthelessalso be applied to payment systems including validating units with nophysical access control. In this case, the method of the inventionmerely uses signals to tell the user that access is refused (bydisplaying a message and actuating an audible warning device).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood after reading the followingdescription and examining the accompanying drawings. The drawings aregiven exclusively by way of illustrative and non-limiting example of theinvention. The figures show:

FIG. 1: one example of a terminal and a microcircuit medium which beused to implement the method of the invention in the transport field,

FIG. 2: a flowchart showing the successive steps of the method of theinvention, and

FIG. 3: a more detailed representation of the terminal from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This example corresponds to a mode of use in which the terminal controlsentry into a controlled area. FIG. 1 shows:

-   -   a terminal 1 which includes a contactless reader having an        antenna 2 under a cover that is transparent to electromagnetic        radiation, and    -   a contactless medium in the form of a smart card 3 incorporating        a microcircuit 4 communicating with the outside world via an        antenna 5 and optionally a connection interface 6 with        electrical contacts.

The terminal 1 is in the form of a cabinet alongside a passagewayblocked by a three-legged turnstile 9. The terminal 1 further includes.

-   -   a display 7 and a loudspeaker 8 for imparting information to a        user, and    -   a collection device essentially consisting of a collecting chute        10 into which the user slides or throws the smart card at the        invitation of the display 7 and the loudspeaker B.

The smart card 3 includes:

-   -   standard means, not shown, for extracting the electrical power        required for it to operate from the electromagnetic signal        received by its antenna 5,    -   standard means, not shown, for transmitting and receiving data        via the antenna 5,    -   a logic circuit 11 for processing the data (for example a        microprocessor and an associated program), in particular for        effecting a payment operation and securing the data exchanged        with the terminal 1, and    -   a non-volatile memory 13 containing transaction data.

A credit is stored in a portion 14 of the memory 13. Some credit unitsare electronically canceled by the circuit 11 to show that their valuehas been used up. A second portion 15 of the memory 13 contains anidentifier, for example the user's Social Security number.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of one example of the method of the invention.When a user with a smart card 3 approaches the terminal 1, thecontactless smart card reader detects the presence of the microcircuit4. This is step 17 in FIG. 2. When the card 3 receives the signalstransmitted by the antenna 2, it transmits data to the reader in theterminal 1.

In step 18 the reader in the terminal 1 reads the transaction datacontained in the memory 13 of the card 3. The reader then performs atest to determine if the card is valid (step 19). The test verifies ifthe card 3 corresponds to the intended purpose of the terminal 1:

The card 3 may not correspond to the transport company operating theterminal 1. In this case, the card is refused but is not retained. Amessage on the screen 7 and a sound signal or message reproduced by theloudspeaker 8 indicate that the card does not authorize access (step20).

-   -   If the card is valid, the reader in the terminal 1 modifies the        credit stored in the portion 14 of the memory 13 (step 22). It        causes the circuit 11 to write data. After this writing, the        card may not be valid for a subsequent journey. The reader in        the terminal 1 tests whether the card is valid for another        journey by comparing the remaining credit to a predetermined        amount (step 23):        -   If the card is still valid for another journey, or another            use, the reader authorizes entry/exit (step 24). The reader            commands the unlocking of a latch which prevents the barrier            9 rotating. It displays on the screen 7 a message 25            indicating that the use of the service has been accounted            for and inviting the user to pass through the barrier. The            display can be replaced by the lighting of a green lamp or            any other visual and/or audible and/or mechanical signal. In            this instance, all that remains is for the user to pass            through the barrier.        -   If the card is not valid for another journey, the user is            invited to insert the card into the chute 10 to return it to            the transport company (message 27, step 28). This is            because, in this example, the terminal 1 controls entry to a            controlled area and the user is invited to return the card            before making the journey. In return the user is issued a            ticket 26 indicating the legitimate nature of his situation            during the journey. A message on the screen 7 and/or a sound            message reproduced by the loudspeaker 8 then indicates that            the card must be given up by inserting it into the chute 10            (step 28). At the same time, the terminal 1 prepares to            retain the card. Meanwhile, the barrier remains locked. A            test verifies whether the card has been returned (step 29):            -   If it has, a message 30 on the screen 7 and/or an                audible message reproduced by the loudspeaker 8                invite(s) the user to take the ticket 26 and pass                through the barrier 9. The barrier 9 is then unlocked                (step 24).            -   If it has not, the barrier 9 is not unlocked. At the end                of a predetermined time the terminal 1 reverts to step 1                to detect the card of another user.

In another mode of use, the terminal 1 controls exit from the con-rolledarea. In this case, users are invited to hand in their card at the endof the journey, but there is no need to issue a ticket 26 in exchange.

FIG. 3 shows the construction of the terminal 1 in more detail. Its maincomponents include a printer 36, a contactless reader 31 connected tothe antenna 2 and a microprocessor 32. To prevent entry of foreignbodies into the chute 10, the chute is provided with an access door 33.The microprocessor 32 opens the door 33 only when it receives from thereader 31 information indicating the presence of a card 3 whose credithas just been used up and is therefore to be handed in. In all othercases, the door 33 remains closed.

For implementing the test of step 29, the chute 10 has another door 34further downstream and also controlled by the microprocessor 32. Thedoor 34 retains in the chute 10 a card 3 or any other object depositedtherein. During this time, the nature of the object is tested. To thisend, a detector 35 faces the chute 10, slightly above the door 34. Thedetector 35 can be a very simple device, for example an optical orinfrared detector. It can also be an antenna of the same type as theantenna 2 and which is coupled to the reader 31 to read the memory 13 ofthe deposited card.

-   -   If the presence of a card 3 is detected in the chute 10, the        processor 32 authorizes user entry or exit, opens the door 34        and causes the printer 36 to deliver a ticket 26. All the        operations are timed and synchronized so that they can be        efficiently perceived by the user.    -   If no card 3 is detected in the chute 10, the microprocessor 32        leaves the door 34 closed and does not unlock the barrier 9. If        a foreign object has been inserted, it remains in the chute 10        and the door 33 remains open until a user removes the foreign        object and deposits a card.

A routing device 37 controlled by the microprocessor 32 can optionallydivide cards into two categories. To remedy the insertion of foreignobjects, the routing device 37 can also separate cards from otherobjects thrown into the chute 10. To this end, the receptacle of theterminal 1 includes two hoppers 38 and 39. The cards can be stored loosein these hoppers or stacked to facilitate their re-use.

In practice the entry slot above the door 33 is shaped to facilitateinserting the card. The opening can be wider than the entry slot of amagnetic stripe reader because its guide function is less precise, tofacilitate fast insertion of the card.

The two doors 33 and 34 are preferably actuated so that opening of thedoor 34 is followed a second test by the detector 35 to verify that thecard is no longer present before authorizing re-opening of the door 33.This prevents removal of cards by so-called “fishing” methods.

Cards valid for a single journey (single cards) do not need to berecharged and can be recycled without rewriting their memory. The othertickets are recharged by writing a new value into the microcircuit 4. Asecret key is generally required for recharging the microcircuit 4. Thesecurity precautions in respect of the secret key are simpler becausethe value is recharged only by employees of the company owning theterminal 1.

The recycling mode is preferably adapted to suit particular operatingconditions. In the situation where only single cards are recycled andthen dispensed automatically, the collected cards are stacked in thehoppers without recharging their value. They are recharged at the timethey are sold. For manual distribution to ticket offices of stationsequipped with a reader for recharging their value, the cards are stackedin boxes without recharging their value. Their value is recharged at thetime they are sold. For distribution by external resellers, who have nomeans of recharging their value, the tickets have their value rechargedby a secure dedicated equipment unit belonging to the transport company.

The cards can be stacked any way around, unlike magnetic stripe cards,which simplifies the mechanism in the terminals.

1. A contactless payment method using a rechargeable medium, comprising:offering up the medium in the vicinity of a contactless reader; anddebiting the medium with the cost of a requested service if a creditshown on the medium is at least equal to said cost; wherein, to obligethe user to hand in the medium when the credit shown by the medium isless than a fixed amount, said contactless payment method furthercomprises, verifying if the credit shown by the medium is less than afixed amount and, if so, inviting the user to hand in the medium thatthe user is using, and providing a service only after the user hashanded in the medium.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein alight and/or sound and/or mechanical signal invites the user to hand inthe medium.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first dooropens to invite the user to hand in the medium.
 4. The method accordingto claim 3, wherein for verifying that each object handed in by a useris a rechargeable medium, said contactless payment method comprises:collecting the handed-in object in a collection chute under the firstdoor; retaining the object in the chute by means of a second door;verifying that the object in the chute is a rechargeable medium; andopening the second door if the object handed in is a rechargeablemedium.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein if said user inserts an objectthat is not said rechargeable medium, said first door remains open untilsaid user removes said object and deposits said rechargeable medium. 6.The method according to claim 1, wherein said contactless payment methodfurther comprises; verifying that each object handed in by a user is arechargeable medium, and providing a service only if the object is arechargeable medium.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidcontactless payment method further comprises sorting collected mediainto different hoppers of the receptacle according to the nature of themedia.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contactlesspayment method further comprises delivering to each user handing intheir rechargeable medium a ticket indicating that they have handed intheir rechargeable medium.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein,to debit the cost of a requested service, said contactless paymentmethod writes data into a memory of a microcircuit incorporated in themedium.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein if said user hands in anobject other than said rechargeable medium, said object is refused butnot retained.
 11. A contactless payment device using a rechargeablemedium, comprising: a contactless reader, and means for debiting, in themedium, the price of a requested service if the credit shown on themedium is at least equal to that price, wherein, to invite the user ofthe medium to hand in the medium when the credit shown on the medium isless than a fixed amount, said contactless payment device includes:means for verifying if the credit shown on the medium is less than afixed amount, means for inviting the user to hand in the medium they areholding if the credit shown on the medium is less than a fixed amount,means for collecting the handed in medium, and means for supplying aservice only after the user has handed in the medium.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the means for inviting the user to handin the medium include luminous signal emitting means and/or audiblesignal emitting means and/or mechanical signal emitting means.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 12, wherein the means for inviting the user tohand in the medium include a first door and means for opening the door.14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said contactless paymentdevice further comprises: means for verifying that each object handed inby a user is a rechargeable medium; and means for providing a serviceonly if the object is a rechargeable medium.
 15. The device according toclaim 14, wherein said contactless payment device further comprises: asecond door downstream of the first door and a chute between the twodoors; and means for opening the second door only if the verifying meansindicate that an object placed in the chute is a rechargeable medium.16. The device of claim 15, wherein if said user inserts an object thatis not said rechargeable medium, said first door remains open until saiduser removes said object and deposits said rechargeable medium.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein said contactless payment devicefurther includes means for routing collected media to different hoppersaccording to the nature of the media.
 18. The device according to claim11, wherein said contactless payment device further includes means fordelivering to each user who has handed in a rechargeable medium a ticketindicating that they have handed in their rechargeable medium.
 19. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein, to debit the cost of a requestedservice, said contactless payment device includes means for writing datain a memory of a microcircuit incorporated in the medium.
 20. The deviceof claim 11, wherein if said user hands in an object other than saidrechargeable medium, said object is refused but not retained.